Friday, July 17, 1998 Last modified at 2:32 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 1998

South Africa celebrates Mandela's 80th birthday with party

KRUGER PARK, South Africa (AP) - When you mean all the things to a nation that Nelson Mandela means to South Africa, your personal milestones become national events.

So the entire country began celebrations for Mandela's 80th birthday with a giant cake and the gleeful singing of children at a game reserve Thursday.

Mandela will step down as president next year and his birthday Saturday is the focal point of festivities to say thanks and goodbye to the man whose courage and integrity brought about a peaceful transition from apartheid and pointed the country toward racial reconciliation.

After elections next year, Mandela most likely will be replaced by his deputy, Thabo Mbeki, a fact that worries many whites, mindful of a growing feeling among poor blacks that not enough has been done to redistribute wealth.

But under clear blue African skies such political worries seemed far away as Mandela hosted a birthday party for 1,400 foster children of all races at a camp site in Kruger Park game reserve.

Mandela made no mention of newspaper reports that he plans to marry his longtime companion Graca Machel, the widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel, this weekend. But his daughter, Zinzi Mandela, said it would not happen soon.

"We are all hoping it is going to happen one day, but it's not going to be now," she told reporters.

In the heart of the park hundreds of children played games and ate snacks from stalls. They cheered and sang happy birthday as Mandela, wearing a trademark blue African patterned shirt, walked through the crowds, smiling and accepting cards and gifts.

Known for his love of children, Mandela beamed and danced enthusiastically as three young girls sang him a specially written song called "You're Special."

Mandela has won wide support from all races for advocating racial forgiveness. At the same time he has constantly pushed those who benefited from apartheid to do more to help those disadvantaged by it.

Mandela "has stood out as a symbol and a living manifestation of that which the human spirit is capable of," his ruling African National Congress party said in a congratulatory message.

Some members of his party, particularly those aligned to its labor and communist allies, have criticized the ANC for being soft on whites, many of whom still live luxurious lifestyles.

But Mandela said Thursday that whites had done much to heal the country's racial wounds.

He particularly singled out white-owned businesses for their efforts to empower the black majority.

"Business in this country now wants to share their fortune with the least developed people in this country," he said.

Mandela insisted that whites have an important role to play in developing South Africa, using the skills that their privileged upbringing under apartheid gave them to uplift their fellow citizens.

"You can take part in shaping the future of this country," he said. "Blacks regard you as their important partners."

For the 27 years he was imprisoned, Mandela was demonized by the country's white apartheid rulers. But the man whites had been taught to fear became, through his dignity and sincerity, the most adored man in the country.

Tony Leon, the leader of the small white liberal Democratic Party, in his birthday message called Mandela a wr symbol of courage, hope and reconciliation to South Africans and the world.